Mechanically-waved flag



J. D. HOUSTON.

MECHANICALLY WAVED FLAG.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 11.1920.

1,374,921. Patented Apr. 19, 1921. Z SHEETS-SHEET 1- FL 1. 1; 26 14 If 1 j 1519 James 1]. Houston gwuentoza J. D. HOUSTON.

MECHANICALLY WAVED FLAG.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. I920.

1,874,921. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE. A

Application filed October 11, 1920. Serial To all whom it me concern:

Be it known that JAMES D. 'HoUsroN, a citizen of the United States residing at East Aurora in the county of Erieand State of Y ork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements Waved Flags, of which the following is a specification. 0

This invention relates to dlsplay apparatus, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a non-fabric flag whlch can be mechanically operated in ;such a manner as to simulate the waving of a fabric flag in abreeze.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device for either indoor or' outdoor use, which will resent' a pleasing and novel appearance to t e eye, and which includes a plurality of sections arranged to simulate the appearance of an American flag, said sections being adapted to be 0 erated in such a manner as to give the e ect of a flag wavlng.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved patriotic display device constructed to simulate the appearance of an American flag, which includes a plurality of vertically disposed rollers having a plurality of stripes painted or otherwise formed thereon in an undulated formation, and

- means for simultaneously rotating said rollers in one direction, whereby the device will produce a wavy efl'ect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. novel display device of the above character which will be durable and efficient in operation, one that will be simple and easy to construct, and one which can be manfuactured and set up at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of arts as will be hereinafter more specifical y described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved patriotic display device. p

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same showing parts thereof in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentar front elevation of the improved display evice showing the rollers turned one quarter of a revolution from that disclosed in Fig. 1, showing the relation of the painted stripes on the rollers Specification of Letters l'atent.

/ in relation to each in Mechanicallyin relation to each other.

the American Patented Apr.

mot on is presented.

Flg. 4 1s a, fragmentary side elevation of one of the rollers lllustrating the manner in wh ch the stripes are formed on the, rollers Fig. 5 is an enlarged fra enta' front elevation of a modified form d fthe ilisplay apparatus, arts of the samebeing shown in section an Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein simllar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the im-' proved display ap%aratus which includes a supporting frame and the novel e frame B is of substantially open rectangular configuration and includes the upper and lower longitudinally extendin rails or beams 10, and the vertically disposed end or transverse beams 11. The upper and lower longitudinally extending beams 10 are thereon the stripes and the stars and fieldtherefor so as to present the appearance of flag. The manner in which the stripes are palnted or otherwise formed on the rollers will hereinafter be more specifically described, as the manner in which they are formed on the rollers presents the waving motion to the flagwhen the rollersare rotated, by a means which also will be hereinafter more fully described.

The plurality of rollers 12 and the lurality of rollers 13 are formed substantia ly the same with the exception that the rollers 12 have painted or otherwise formed thereon the blue field 14, the stars 15 and the white and red stripes 16 and 17, while the rollers 13 have onlypainted or otherwise formed thereon the red stripes 18 and the white stripes 19. As shown, each. of the rollers other whereby the wavy lurality of rollers 12 A includes a cylindrical body which may be formed solid and out of wood or of hollowed formation and out of sheet metal, such as aluminum, tin or the like. The upper and lower ends of the rollers are provided with spindles 20 which are rotatably mounted in the bearing openings formed 1n the upper I and lower longitudially extending bars 12.

The red and white stri es painted or. otherwise formed on the rol ers are of undulated formation and have the highest point thereof desi ated by the numeral 21. directly diametrically opposite the lowest pomt thereof as designated by the numeral 22. Thus when these rollers are simultaneously rotated in the same direction, it can be seen that a wavy effect will be produced givlng the appearance of a flag waving 1n a breeze. The rollers 12 have, as stated, palnted or otherwise formed thereon above the white and red stripes 16 and 17, the blue field 14 and the stars 15 and the upper edge of the blue field painted on each one of the rollers also terminates in an undulated manner.

If so desired, the terminals of the rollers may be cut off or trimmed in accordance with the shape of the upper and lower edges of the uppermost and lowermost stripes formed on the rollers, or if so desired, the rollers may have their terminals above and below the stripes and the blue field painted a dull black or other suitable color as at 23 which will blend in with the surrounding atmosphere or interior decorations. Worm wheels 24 are keyed or otherwise secured to the upper terminals of theupper spindles 20 of each of the rollers and these worm wheels are engaged by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending worm 25 which may be rotated in any preferred manner, such as by an electric motor or the like. This longitudinally extending worm 25 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing brackets 26 bolted or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the uppermost longitudinally extending bar or beam 10.

In operation of the improved patriotic display device, all of the rollers are adapted to rotate simultaneously and in a counterclockwise direction and as the rollers rotate the position of the stripes thereof will change in relation to each other thus presenting a wavy appearance simulating a flag waving from the left toward the right.

If the display apparatus is to be used at night, a suitable are light can be trained on the same for the illumination thereof, or if so desired, the device may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the rollers, which are designated by the numerals 27 in this form, are constructed of hollow cylindrical formation and of translucent material, such as glass, celluloid, or the like, and these hollow cylinders are secured to upper and. lower plugs 28 and 29. The upper plugs 28 are provided with s indles 30 which are rotatably mountedin t e uppermost longitudinally extending beam 10 'of the frame B, and these spindles are provided with the worm wheels 24 and are adapted to be rotated simultaneously by the worm 25. The lower plugs 29 are provided with hollow spindles 31 which arerotatably1 mounted in suitable openings formed in t e lowermost longitudinally extending bar or beam 10. The plug 29 is also formed hollow and has its upper face concaved as at 32 and this concaved face 32 is adapted to rotatably receive a suitable reflector 33, which is carried by a hollow sleeve 34, which is secured by suitable fastening elements 35 to the lowermost longitudinally extending beam 10. This sleeve 34 is adapted to receive a suitable plug 36 and suitable incandescent bulb 37 and the plug 36 may be fed from an suitable source of electrical energy througli electric wires 38. It thus can be seen that while the rollers 27 are being rotated, the

incandescent lamp 37 mounted therein will illuminate the interior thereof and the rays of light will shine through the translucent material from which the rollers are made. It is to be understood, of course, that the rollers are painted in the same manner as the rollers 12 and 13 in the form shown in Fi 1 to 4 inclusive.

romthe foregoing description it can be seen that an improved patriotic display apparatus has been provided of exce tionall simple and durable construction, which wiil present a pleasing and novel appearance to thegieye and form a general attraction to the pu 10.

Changes indetails may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. A display apparatus comprising a plurality of rotatable cylindrical rollers arranged side by side having a series of superposed obllquely disposed rings of different colors arranged thereon, and means for simultaneously rotating said rollers whereby a wavy motion will be presented.

2. An American flag display apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said frame arranged side b side, certain of said rollers having a blue eld and stars arranged thereon, and superposed red and white stripes formed thereon below the field, the other rollers having superposed red and white stripes, the stripes being arran ed obliquely with their highest point directly diametrically opposite their lowest points, and means for rotating said rollers whereby a horizontal u and down waving motion will be presentedi 3. An American flag display apparatus comprising a rectangular open frame ineluding longitudinal bars and transverse side bars, a lurality of rollers having spindles rotata ly mounted in the longitudinally extending bars, said rollers having superposed obliquely disposed stripes of different colors formed thereon, worm wheels keyed to the spindles at one end of the rollers, and a worm meshing with said worm Wheels.

4; A display apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of rotatable rollers carried by the frame having outwardly extending spindles formed on their terminals rotatably mounted in the frame, the rollers having arranged thereon a series of superposed obliquely disposed stripes of difierent colors, means for rotating saidrollers, the spindles formed on one end of the rollers being of: hollow formation, a sleeve secured to the same for non-rotary movement arranged within the'hollow spindles, electric plugs carried by said sleeves, and incandescent lamps fitted in said sleeves arranged to electrically engage said plugs and disposed within said rollers.

5. A flag. display apparatus'oomprising a frame, a plurality of cylindrical rollers formed of translucent material of hollow formation arranged within the same, spindles detachably fitted within said sleeves, and incandescent lamps detachably fitted within said sleeves and disposed within said translucent rollers.

6. In a display apparatus of the above character, a hollow cylindrical roller formed of translucent material, plugs carried by the opposite ends of the cylinder, outwardly extending spindles formed on the plugs, one

of the plugs having its face concaved and its spindle of hollow formation, a non-rotatable sleeve mounted within said hollow spindle, a reflector fitted within the concaved portion of the said concaved plug and secured to said sleeve, an incandescent lamp arranged within the translucent roller and detachably fitted within said sleeve, and a removable electric plug fitted in said sleeve arranged to electrically engage said incandescent lamp.

JAMIES D. HOUSTON. 

